Wye Valley NHS Trust

What you choose to put in your body really affects how you feel and how healthy you are. Eating the right sort of foods in the right amount is one of the most important things you can do for your overall health. Eating unhealthily can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. These conditions can increase the risk of heart and circulatory problems. There are lots of resources available to support you to understand a healthy approach to food and how to get into good eating habits that will help look after your heart health.…

When you have diabetes, you’re more at risk of heart and circulatory disease. And poor circulation makes other diabetes complications worse-like problems with your eyes and feet. That’s why it’s even more important to take good care of your heart when you have diabetes. If you have high blood sugar levels for a period of time, even slightly high, your arteries can start to get damaged, and make them more likely to develop fatty deposits (atheroma). If atheroma builds up in your coronary arteries, this can lead to a heart attack. To help protect yourself, get your HbA1c, blood pressure…

Being physically inactive is when you don’t move your body for long periods of time. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and being overweight all increase the risk of heart and circulatory problems. Being physically active regularly helps reduce these conditions. Being active is anything that raises your heart rate, this can be activities like hanging the washing out, walking outdoors or sports. You should be able to hold a conversation while you are active. Regular activity doesn’t just protect your heart, it can help improve your general health and wellbeing. The amount of physical activity you can…

Victoria Eye Unit at The County Hospital The Victoria Eye Unit offers a wide range of ophthalmic services, covering all areas of general ophthalmology, including cataract surgery. Specialist Clinics We provide specialised clinics for: Glaucoma Retinal and Macular Disorders (including Vitreoretinal surgery) Squint (in both adults and children) Paediatric Ophthalmology Thyroid Eye Disease Eyelid Disorders Inflammatory eye disease Cornea and external disease The department is equipped with state-of-the-art digital photographic and laser imaging equipment, all connected throughout the hospital. Eye Unit – Emergencies If you have an urgent eye problem, follow the guidance below: Call an Optometrist from the lists below,…

The ‘Macmillan Renton Unit’ is a purpose built outpatient facility at Wye Valley NHS Trust, in Hereford, which opened in 2011. Macmillan Renton is an outpatient unit caring for patients who have cancer or where cancer is suspected. Haematology outpatient appointments are also held in this unit. Outpatient clinics as well as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are held daily (Monday to Friday), as well as other treatments, such as blood transfusions.  The Unit is supported by a broad range of staff. These include Specialist Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Occupational Therapists, Radiotherapists, Health Care Assistants, and Support Workers.  Our multidisciplinary team are…

Melissa Mayo - Operational Support Officer – Referral Management Centre Typical day for myself would be supporting the day to day running of the RMC and our staff. We have approx. 35 staff within our department with a mixture of clinic clerks and coordinators for a vast range of services within WVT. My main role is to ensure the smooth running of the RMC each day – From workloads, short notice support, processes and also validation into our services PTL’s (2ww, urgent and routine). Having joined the trust in 2016 as a clinic clerk in the RMC, I was always inspired…

Your midwife will talk to you about your choices for contraception when you are being discharged from the hospital. Contraception should ideally be commenced 21 days after giving birth. The most reliable form of contraceptive is the implant or the coil, this is because it doesn’t rely on the user to remember to take it. However, everyone has a different health history and therefore this may limit your options, for example if you have a personal or family history of bloods clots, cancer, diabetes, asthma or migraines. Your GP will also discuss contraception with you at your 8 week postnatal…

It is there to improve our health and wellbeing, supporting us to keep mentally and physically well, to get better when we are ill and, when we cannot fully recover, to stay as well as we can to the end of our lives. It works at the limits of science – bringing the highest levels of human knowledge and skill to save lives and improve health. It touches our lives at times of basic human need, when care and compassion are what matter most. The NHS is founded on a common set of principles and values that bind together the…

Waterbirth has many benefits including: Lower chance of postpartum haemorrhage Lower chance of having an episiotomy Decreased need for stronger pain relief (epidural and pethidine) Lower chance of perineal trauma A more positive birth experience No difference in baby’s wellbeing at birth (Burns et al, 2022) Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirth | BMJ Open Waterbirth is offered routinely for women who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy. The criteria for women wishing to use water at Hereford are:  BMI < 35 Baby is in a…

The majority of people will experience some nausea and vomiting during pregnancy – around 80%.  Although it is often described as morning sickness, the symptoms can present at any time of day.  For most people, the nausea and sickness can be managed with changes to their diet and lifestyle and doesn’t impede greatly on their daily activities and will improve at around 12-20 weeks of pregnancy.  However, for some women, approximately 3%, the nausea and vomiting will be so severe that it affects their health and wellbeing, they cannot continue with their normal routine and they need hospital treatment –…